UPDATE 1-Peru central bank slashes 2014 GDP growth view to 5.5 pct

LIMA, April 22 (Reuters) - Peru's central bank slashed its
forecast for this year's economic expansion to 5.5 percent from
6 percent on dimmer expectations for the country's crucial
mining sector, the bank's president said.

The new growth forecast, scheduled to be published in a
quarterly report on Friday, points to a less dramatic economic
rebound in 2014 after last year's slowdown than the central bank
and government had previously estimated.

The central bank and finance ministry said late last year
that the economy would likely grow around 6 percent in 2014.

Central Bank President Julio Velarde said mining activity
will pick up this year but will not likely be as robust as
previously thought.

"We expect growth of 5.5 percent, with mining growing less
than expected," Central Bank President Julio Velarde said during
a presentation at a university event late on Tuesday.

Velarde said the bank trimmed its forecast in part because
of weaker production from "an important copper mining company."

He did not specify the company's name.

Velarde also said the monetary authority revised its view of
the fiscal surplus in 2014 upward to 0.4 percent of gross
domestic product from its 0.1 percent estimate given in
December.
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